Euclid police release dash cam video of violent arrest

The Euclid Police Department has released dash cam footage of an Aug. 12 incident of a violent altercation with a man pulled over during a traffic stop.

Police issued a news release late Aug. 12 after a witness recorded part of the altercation and posted the video to Facebook. That video has now been viewed more than 4 million times.

According to the police news release:

The officer witnessed a moving/traffic violation committed by a man later identified as Richard Hubbard III, 25, of Cleveland, at about 10:30 a.m. Aug. 12. Police attempted to stop Hubbard, who had been driving a 2011 silver Hyundai.

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“Police initiated a traffic stop of the Hyundai near 240 E. 228th St. During the traffic stop, police ordered Hubbard out of the car and to face away in order to take Hubbard into custody. Hubbard ignored the order to face away, and as the officer attempted to take Hubbard into custody, he began physically resisting. A violent struggle lasting over three minutes ensued, and additional officers were needed to eventually take Hubbard into custody.”

The incident was recorded by police dash cam footage, which The News-Herald obtained from the police department Aug. 14.

As Hubbard gets out of the car, the officer asks him to face away and repeats the order about a second later. The situation progresses ­— some of which happens out of the view of the dash cam — and Hubbard and two officers go to the ground.

As they are on the ground, one of the officers can be seen repeatedly punching Hubbard. The female passenger gets out of the car and tells the officers to stop hitting him. She also tells Hubbard to listen to the police.

Hubbard tells his passenger to record the incident.

One of the officers asks Hubbard to roll over on his stomach while one of the officers is still sitting on top of him.

Both Hubbard and his passenger said that he does not have a gun on him. The officers can be heard saying that Hubbard is reaching down while he is restrained on the ground, but Hubbard said he is not.

Hubbard is punched multiple times again.

More officers arrive at the scene. Hubbard’s passenger is taken to the ground and can be heard asking why she is under arrest.

Police said in its Aug. 12 news release that Hubbard was medically examined in the Cuyahoga County Jail Euclid Annex. Hubbard was charged with driving under suspension and resisting arrest.

The arresting officer was treated and released from an area hospital. The officer also was placed on paid administrative leave pending further review of the incident.

According to an article on WKYC.com, the arresting officer is allegedly involved in an incident using similar tactics while arresting a 25-year-old, black city worker last month.